Shiitake Mushroom Grow Kit (5lbs)
Shiitake Mushroom Grow Kit (5lbs) is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Description
Description
This Shiitake mushroom grow kit is a 5 lb block already fully colonized with Lentinula edodes mycelium. No sterile work, no incubation, no equipment beyond the mister in the box. Cut or unwrap the block as directed, mist it daily, and thick brown caps start forming on your counter.
Shiitake behaves differently from oyster kits, and that difference is the reason people love it: instead of one fast burst, a shiitake block works in cycles. It fruits, rests, gets soaked, and fruits again — commonly three to four times across four to five months. It is the longest-producing kit we sell.
- 5 lbsColonized block
- 2.5–3 lbsTypical yield
- 65–80°FFruiting temp
- 3–4Flushes
- 4–5 monthsProductive life
What comes in the kit
- 5 lb pre-colonized shiitake block on hardwood-based substrate
- Ultra-fine pump mister for daily misting
- Printed step-by-step growing instructions
How a shiitake block works
The short versionShiitake takes one extra beat that oyster kits don't. The block browns first, then fruits — and between flushes it gets soaked rather than simply misted.
- Let it brown. A healthy shiitake block develops a firm, bumpy, chocolate-brown skin across its surface. This is the mycelium maturing, not contamination, and it is a required stage. If your block arrives white or partly white, give it time in a warm room until the brown layer forms.
- Open the block as directed. Shiitake is usually taken fully out of its bag rather than slit like an oyster kit, so the whole surface can fruit. Follow the included instructions for this block.
- Mist daily and keep it cool at night. Light passes over the surface once or twice a day. Shiitake responds strongly to a temperature drop, so a spot that cools overnight helps trigger pinning.
- Harvest before the caps flatten. Pick while the cap edges are still curled under. Twist and pull the whole mushroom rather than cutting the stem flush.
- Soak, then repeat. After a flush, let the block rest for one to two weeks, then submerge it in cold water for several hours to rehydrate and shock it. Drain it and set it back out. That soak is what starts the next cycle.
The single most common shiitake question: "My block turned dark brown and lumpy — is it moldy?" Almost always, no. That brown skin is exactly what a mature shiitake block is supposed to look like, and it forms before any mushrooms appear. Green, black, or fuzzy patches with a sour smell are a different matter — that is contamination.
Growing specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Species | Lentinula edodes (Shiitake, Black Forest Mushroom) |
| Block weight | 5 lbs, fully colonized |
| Expected yield | 2.5–3 lbs wet weight across all flushes |
| Fruiting temperature | 65–80°F |
| Light | 10–12 hours indirect light per day |
| Humidity method | Mist 1–2× daily; cold-water soak between flushes |
| Flushes | 3–4 over roughly 4–5 months |
| Skill level | Beginner — no sterile technique required |
Flavor, texture, and cooking
Shiitake is the most savory mushroom most people will ever grow at home. It carries a concentrated, almost broth-like depth that comes from naturally occurring glutamates, which is why it anchors so much of East Asian cooking — dashi, hot pot broths, stir-fries, braises.
The texture is what sets a home-grown shiitake apart from a supermarket one. Fresh caps are dense and slightly springy, and they hold their shape through high heat instead of collapsing. Slice the caps and sear them hard in a dry pan until the moisture cooks off, then add fat. Save the stems: they are too fibrous to eat whole, but they make an excellent stock.
Shiitake also dries better than almost any other gourmet species. Dried caps rehydrate with even deeper flavor, and the soaking liquid becomes a broth base in its own right.
Worth addingIf you are fruiting a block out in the open on a counter or shelf, a portable humidity tent makes a real difference for very little money. It holds moisture around the block so you mist less often and get fuller caps, and it matters most in winter when forced-air heat drops indoor humidity well below what a fruiting block wants.
Common questions
How long until my shiitake grow kit starts producing mushrooms?
Shiitake is slower to start than oyster kits and rewards patience. The block must first develop its brown outer skin, and only then will pins begin to form. Once pinning starts, mushrooms size up over roughly a week. If the block is fully browned and several weeks have passed with nothing forming, a cold-water soak is usually what it needs.
My block turned dark brown and bumpy. Is something wrong?
No — that is the normal and necessary maturation stage for shiitake. The mycelium forms a tough brown skin across the block before it fruits, and the surface often looks lumpy or wrinkled. Real contamination looks different: green, black, or fuzzy growth, usually with a sour or musty smell. Brown and firm is healthy.
Why do I need to soak a shiitake block between flushes?
Two reasons. The block loses substantial water weight producing a flush, and soaking restores it. The cold water also delivers a temperature shock, which is one of the natural signals that triggers shiitake to fruit again. Submerge the block in cold water for several hours, drain it thoroughly, and return it to its growing spot. This soak-and-rest cycle is what lets one block produce for months.
How is a shiitake kit different from an oyster kit?
Three practical differences. Shiitake takes longer to get going, since the block must brown before it fruits. It is typically unwrapped entirely rather than slit through one face. And it is soaked between flushes rather than simply misted. In exchange, it produces over a much longer window — months rather than weeks — and delivers a denser, more savory mushroom.
When should I harvest shiitake?
Pick while the cap edges are still curled under and have not flattened out. A flat or upturned cap means the mushroom is mature and starting to release spores; it is still edible but the texture softens. Twist and pull the whole mushroom, stem included, rather than cutting it — leftover stem stubs can rot on the block surface.
What's the difference between this kit and shiitake grain spawn?
This kit is a finished fruiting block — ready to produce mushrooms with nothing else required. Grain spawn is an ingredient: colonized grain you mix into bulk substrate or use to inoculate logs and sawdust blocks for a much larger grow. If you want mushrooms on the counter, take the kit. If you are scaling up, start with our pre-colonized grain spawn bags instead.
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Let customers speak for us
So when i got this i was worried because of past experiences. Leave it up to midwest to be nice a patient with me. The team at bonsai gives great support . This flow hood is meant to run a little higher than normal clean room standards because most people need this working from home . This thing is nice and laminar. Very inform . With a speed contoller i average about .45 m/s across the face. It passed everyone one of my agar grid tests . Which blows my mind becuase i ran it through three diffrent 30 mins agar grid tests . Ive used a few flow hoods and this one is my favorite . Perfect for any home or small buisness.
"Upgraded to the MycoClimate 44Q and the difference in consistency is night and day. The dual-chamber water-bath heating keeps temperatures rock-solid without drying out the substrate like standard heating mats do, and the automated HEPA air pump takes all the stress out of fresh air exchange—even tucked away inside a closet.
i saw germination in my jar within 2-4 days!! I ordered a 3 pack and i injected 3 different strains and they are all colonizing and germinating very rapidly i see ne difference in rate of germination for genetics they are all moving about the same speed im happy with my purchase!
100% RELIABLE EVERY TIME I LOVE YOU MIDWEST THANL YOU TEAM
Reliable and I know what I am getting. Pretty quick colonization.
I got the grow bag instead of jars this time because I am not interested in the steps of the jars.
Been there done that.
I am not an expert🤓 but now I have enough knowledge and experience to call myself an apprentice.
The thrill of the process is gone. Just give me the dam mushrooms.
I am hurry up and waiting😉.
Seems to be working is all I have to say at this point day 7. The green is reflection not mold.
All I knew was I wanted to grow some mushies for me and the boys, I did a bunch of research on companies and you guys have been around the longest and have the best reviews for these types and I was not disappointed. Took exactly 8 weeks to harvest my first 4 ounces and more on the way! Thanks so much for all the awesome guides and videos! Made it so easy!
It's a great monotub kit. I recommend throwing the horse booster, used the whole bag to 4 small quick grain jars and the 7.5 mix. I learned how to do a pf tek with these guys 10 years ago when you still got the sticky light for the lid and the monotub was a blue tub with polyfill. These monotub kits have come a very long way since then. Substrate has always been clean and performed better than what I try to recreate with a pressure cooker.
10cc liquid culture and follow the instructions mgk gives you hard to mess up.
So far , I only have a little bit on agar , and am only beginning to study this mycelium. Super excited to try to put it to use in this Aspen tree.
Everything is looking real good so far
If your ever in need of replacing your hepa filter on your bonsai flowhood these are an exact match to whichever size you have. Worth noting that a filter will actually work a lot longer than is recommended due to physics but if your externals get dirty or damaged it’s worth replacing.
Shipping was lightning fast
I like everything about this setup. The time of ownership is too short to discuss fruiting mushrooms but the incubating mycelium seem to be doing well for now under the recommended temps. The one thing that would make this setup better would be the inclusion of an electronic controlled hygrometer to run the vaporizer.
Unit was just giving 0 on everything except air Temp and Humidity. Called customer and they are taking care of. Happy with customer service.
